Certaines expressions temporelles se ressemblent beaucoup mais ont des sens bien distincts. Maîtriser ces nuances est un signe de progression vers le niveau intermédiaire.
1. On time vs In time
- On time : À l’heure prévue (ponctualité). Ni en avance, ni en retard.
- The train arrived on time. (À l’heure pile).
- Please be on time for the meeting.
- In time : Assez tôt pour quelque chose, juste avant la limite.
- We arrived at the station in time to catch the train. (Juste avant qu’il ne parte).
- I hope the ambulance arrives in time.
2. At the end vs In the end
- At the end (of something) : Au moment où quelque chose se termine physiquement ou temporellement.
- At the end of the movie, everyone cried.
- The shop is at the end of the street.
- In the end : Finalement, après avoir tout considéré ou après de longs efforts.
- We couldn’t decide where to go, but in the end, we stayed home.
- He tried many times and, in the end, he succeeded.
💡 Moyen Mémo-technique
- On time = Horloge ⏰
- In time = Juste avant la porte qui se ferme 🚪
- At the end = Un point sur une ligne 📍
- In the end = Conclusion d’une histoire 📖
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
Choisis la bonne expression.
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
#1 The 8:00 train arrived exactly .
#2 I forgot to pay the bill, but I remembered .
#3 of the book, the hero dies.
#4 We had many problems, but , everything was fine.
#5 Am I for the start of the game?
#6 She is never . She is always late!
#7 I'll see you of the week.
#8 I didn't want to go, but , I had a great time.
#9 The bus was today despite the snow.
#10 Put your signature of the page.